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We’re Blamed For It Sideways (Since Republicans Are Still Anti-Trans)

After the assassination attempt on Trump, Republicans gave anti-trans speeches at the RNC

Tucker Lieberman
4 min readJul 17, 2024
horse tilts head
Horse by Christel SAGNIEZ from Pixabay

One of the hardest things for me immediately following the assassination attempt on Donald Trump is the sense that Republicans are blaming it on “President Biden,” “the Democrats” and everyone they classify as “other.”

Arguably, everyone knows they’re lying because that’s how the Republicans speak and behave. They’re generally lying. But then again, if everyone really understood that they’re always lying, Trump might not be leading in the polls.

Repeating a falsehood has a cognitive effect: Those who hear it, even consciously knowing it is false, begin to believe it. It seeps into their understanding.

As a party, they’re blaming “the other” sideways. That’s what they come to believe about us.

And for those of us who are “other,” being falsely blamed has a psychological effect.

Republicans Blaming Democrats

On July 13, a 20-year-old white man — a registered Republican, described by his high school classmates as politically conservative and as having MAGA friends — shot at Trump.

Afterward, Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia falsely alleged that “Joe Biden sent the orders” and demanded “charges against Joseph R. Biden for inciting an assassination.”

X post by Mike Collins: Joe Biden sent the orders.
X post by Mike Collins: The Republican District Attorney in Butler County, PA, should immediately file charges against Joseph R. Biden for inciting an assassination.

Sen. J. D. Vance of Ohio wrote:

J. D. Vance on X: The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination.

Undoubtedly this was what Trump wanted Vance to say. Two days later, he was announced as Trump’s VP pick.

Of which Joshua P. Hill helpfully observed the dissonant message:

“After spending two…

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Tucker Lieberman
Tucker Lieberman

Written by Tucker Lieberman

Cult classic. Author of the novel "Most Famous Short Film of All Time." Editor for Prism & Pen and Identity Current. tuckerlieberman.com

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